eNews April 2011
Dean’s Introduction
Dear Friends of the MCD
Greetings from our refurbished premises in Kew, and sincere thanks to Chris Monaghan, the President of YTU, and to all the faculty, administrative staff and students for being such wonderful and gracious hosts during our sojourn as guests of their community over the Summer months. We felt so welcome, we were sad to say good-bye.
I was reflecting last Monday morning that, although we turned our clocks back an hour the previous day - and perhaps this is just my imagination - time appears to be speeding up. We are nearly half way through Semester 1, and Holy Week and Easter are almost upon us. In this respect, I am reminded of the advice that the Red Queen gave to Alice: “In this place you have to run twice as fast to stand still” (or words to that effect).
So, without further ado, I request that you run twice as fast, stand still, and mark the following important events and dates in your calendar:
1) The annual MCD Conferral Ceremony will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, 12 May at Wilson Hall, the University of Melbourne. 357 outstanding students will graduate, and approximately 150 of these will attend the Conferral Ceremony.
Revd Merrill Kitchen will be made a Fellow of the MCD during the Ceremony.
Professor Richard James, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Participation and Engagement), Chair of Higher Education, Director of the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at The University of Melbourne, and inaugural Chair of the MCD Academic Audit Committee, will present the Graduation Address.
2) The five person Panel appointed by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority to assess the MCD’s application to become a Specialist University will conduct site visits of the MCD and its Recognised Teaching Institutions on 25-27 May. The result of this assessment is expected to be known soon after.
3) Staff Consultation Day and the Field meetings associated with it, will take place on Wednesday 2 November, not 9 November as noted in the MCD Calendar. The change of date, requested by, and agreed to by the Heads of RTIs at their meeting on 9 March, is to ensure maximum attendance at this year’s event.
In closing, my wish for each and every one of us is that we cease our running during Holy Week and Easter, still our hearts, and be open and alive to the presence of the Risen Lord.
Very best wishes
Paul